Where the Water Grows

Visualizing the water footprint of crops and foods harvested in California, on a human scale.

California is suffering from a prolonged drought. With the state's water reserve estimated at one year, residents are being required to reduce their water usage by 25 percent. California's agricultural industry, which accounts for 80 percent of the state's water usage, has yet to have water restrictions imposed. Conserving water can go beyond not watering lawns. Looking into the water footprints of foods Americans eat that are grown in California, consumers and policy makers can make educated decisions to conserve water in the short- and long-term.

Below are a series of graphics illustrating how many gallons of water are used in growing one ounce in weight of a food commonly grown in California as cubes of equal volume. Use the dropdown to view a food, or touch the images to cycle through them.